Please visit Ace’s blog: http://acebourke.wordpress.com/ and if you haven’t done so already, sign Tony’s petition and share the link. Let’ s continue to keep Tony’s story active so people are aware he is still at the truck stop and to demonstrate the worldwide support Tony has. Thank You.
Please sign this new petition for Tony asking the LDWF to ensure he is released to a reputable sanctuary.
A new petition for Tony was posted last night on http://www.change.org asking the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to ensure Tony is released to a reputable sanctuary. It’s important to keep Tony’s story active, networked, and to let people know he is still at the truck stop and their support is still needed. Please sign and share – there are easy share options at the petition link for email, Facebook and Twitter.
Twice a judge has ruled in favor of Tony, barring the LDWF from issuing any further permits and at the last hearing, also revoking the current permit. Tony remains at the truck stop despite these rulings. Talk of his possible move to an exotic animal park which is nothing more than a roadside zoo is truly disturbing. LDWF must ensure he is relocated to a humane reputable big cat sanctuary that can provide the proper habitat, diet, medical care and enrichment Tony needs and deserves.
Thank you again for your support and for advocating on behalf of Tony, which also importantly raises awareness for the thousands of other privately owned tigers in the United States who need our voice.
About This Petition
Why This Is Important
Tony, a Siberian-Bengal tiger, has lived his eleven years as a roadside attraction at a truck stop in Louisiana. In two court hearings, May 6th, 2011 and November 2nd, 2011, Judge Caldwell agreed with The Animal Legal Defense Fund (representing Tony) and their argument that the permit that allows his owner to keep Tony was unlawfully issued by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. On May 6th, 2011 Judge Caldwell granted a permanent injunction blocking LDWF from issuing a new permit to Tony’s owner, and on November 2, 2011 he again prohibited the LDWF from issuing any new permits to the truck stop and ordered the current permit revoked,
There have been recent reports about Tony’s possible move to an exotic animal park if his owner is forced to give him up. This ”park” is under investigation by the USDA for the deaths of 23 tiger cubs. http://theadvocate.com/home/1608646-125/oklahoma-park-probed-in-tiger.html This, as well as the conditions and practices of this “park” (which include exploiting tiger cubs in hands-on exhibits and photo ops) is of great concern to Tony’s supporters. Tony belongs at a true sanctuary, not another “roadside zoo.”
Please sign this petition asking the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to ensure that Tony is relocated to a reputable humane big cat sanctuary that can provide the home, care and life he needs – and has always deserved.
Petition Letter
LDWF: Ensure Tony The Tiger Is Released To A Reputable Sanctuary
Louisiana Deaprtment of Wildlife Representatives:
I respectfully request that you, as a representative of The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, ensure that Tony, an 11 year-old tiger used as a roadside attraction at Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, Louisiana, is relocated to a reputable, humane, accredited big cat sanctuary.
On November 2, 2011, Judge R. Michael Caldwell ruled in favor of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Louisiana taxpayers in their lawsuit to free Tony from the truck stop. Judge Caldwell agreed with ALDF’s argument that the permit that allows Mr. Sandlin to keep Tony was unlawfully issued by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The judge ordered the Department to revoke the current permit and prohibited it from issuing any new permits to the Tiger Truck Stop. Despite this ruling Tony remains at the truck stop due to the appeals and recent lawsuit by his owner.
Reports about Tony’s possible move to an “exotic animal park,” under investigation by the USDA for the deaths of 23 tiger cubs as well as the conditions and practices of this “park” which include exploiting tiger cubs in hands-on exhibits and photo ops are of great concern to myself and supporters of Tony worldwide.
Clearly this facility does not comply with the following sanctuary criteria as defined by The Captive Wildlife Safety Act:
• Must be a non-profit entity that is tax exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Cannot engage in commercial trade in big cat species, including their offspring, parts, and products made from them
• Cannot breed big cats
• Cannot allow direct contact between big cats and the public at their facilities
• Must keep records of transactions involving covered cats
• Must allow the Service to inspect their facilities, records, and animals at reasonable hours
Reference:
http://www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/CWSA_Factsheet.pdf
It is imperative Tony be released to a sanctuary that is humane, reputable and in compliance with the above stipulations. Accredited big cat sanctuaries stand ready to provide Tony with a natural habitat, proper diet, medical care, and enrichment.
Tony represents one of an estimated 5,000 – 10,000 privately owned tigers in the United States whose numbers are greater than tigers left in the wild. Captive tigers can live 15-20 years with quality care. Tony has spent over a decade on display in the unhealthy and unnatural environment of a truck stop.
Please ensure that Tony finally has the life, care and home he needs and deserves by releasing him to an accredited reputable humane big cat sanctuary and not another roadside zoo.
There have been so many back-and-forth motions in the battle over the fate of the Siberian/Bengal tiger, Tony (pictured), at the Tiger Truck Stop in Gross Tete, La., it would be next to impossible for me to summarize them. At once, it’s been quite a while since I posted an update, so here goes:
The most current action, as far as I can tell, has been that Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin has sued the state of Louisiana and Iberville Parish over the constitutionality of their ban prohibiting “anyone from owning wild, exotic or vicious animals for display or exhibition.” It’s something of a countersuit, as a court in November ordered the tiger to be removed from the premises, revoking a state-issued permit on a technicality and prompting animal rights activists with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and other groups to claim victory in setting Tony free.
But the battle goes on.
One of the last couple times I wrote about the tiger, it was on the occasion of a group of drivers getting involved to call for the animal’s removal from the truck stop location. What do you think today?
BY JOE GYAN JR.
Advocate staff writer
January 04, 2012
The owner of a Grosse Tete truck stop filed suit Tuesday in Baton Rouge against the state of Louisiana and Iberville Parish in a last-ditch effort to continue keeping a 550-pound tiger on display at the facility.
Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin argues he and his truck stop have held a federal permit since 1988 to keep tigers at the truck stop, and Tony, a Siberian-Bengal mix, has been kept there lawfully for 10 years.
Sandlin contends the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, a defendant in his lawsuit, lacks statutory and constitutional authority to prohibit ownership of big cats by owners with federal permits.
“I think this is an important lawsuit,’’ Sandlin said. “It will set a precedent for animal owners all over the country.’’
Sandlin’s lawsuit also claims the litigation is important for exotic animals.
“The fact is that the exotic animals in the wild are disappearing at alarming rates because of the illegal activity of criminal poachers. Thus, private ownership and exhibits like Sandlin’s and Tiger Truck Stop’s has become the safe haven for these most precious of our endangered commodities,’’ the lawsuit said.
“Making it more difficult and expensive to assist with preserving these precious species is only furthering the likelihood that private citizens will stop assisting with the fight to prevent the complete extinction of these animals.’’
Animal Legal Defense Fund staff attorney Matthew Liebman said Sandlin’s lawsuit is “baseless and without merit.’’
“We are confident that the state of Louisiana and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries acted well within their legal authority when they decided to protect both the public and big cats like Tony by restricting private ownership of wild animals,’’ he said.
A spokeswoman for the state Attorney General’s Office, Amanda Larkins, said the state’s attorneys were unable to comment on the lawsuit because they were in the process of reviewing it.
Sandlin’s lawsuit comes two months after a state District Court judge ruled Tony is not permitted by state law to remain at the truck stop off Interstate 10.
Judge Mike Caldwell said a state permit can be issued only to an individual, not a corporation, and Tiger Truck Stop is the permit holder, not Sandlin.
Caldwell barred Wildlife and Fisheries from issuing any new permits to keep Tony on display.
Tiger Truck Stop’s state permit expired Dec. 31.
The ruling, which came in a lawsuit that the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed last year against Wildlife and Fisheries, is being appealed by Sandlin, who intervened in the lawsuit.
Caldwell’s judgment is not final until the appeals process runs its course.
If Sandlin’s appeal is ultimately denied, Wildlife and Fisheries has said it would give Sandlin 30 days to move Tony to a sanctuary of Sandlin’s choosing.
In its suit, the Animal Legal Defense Fund cited a 2006 Louisiana law that prohibits the private ownership of large and exotic cats.
The law includes a grandfather exception that allows people to keep exotic cats as pets as long as the animals were legally owned before Aug. 15, 2006, when the law went into effect.
Tony was not legally owned by Tiger Truck Stop before that date because a 1993 Iberville Parish ordinance prohibits anyone from owning wild, exotic or vicious animals for display or exhibition, the Animal Legal Defense Fund said.
Sandlin’s lawsuit said the 2006 state law and the 1993 Iberville Parish ordinance are unconstitutional.
Wildlife and Fisheries has never been given any authority over exotic animals because exotic animals are not indigenous to the state, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit also said the Iberville ordinance does not have an exception for persons with proper permits under federal law.
Sandlin’s lawsuit was assigned to state District Judge Janice Clark.
With the start of a new year, special thoughts go out to the beautiful tiger we all love and care about: Stay Strong Tony, we are resolute in fighting for the home and life you deserve. One of the best “gifts” we can give Tony is our advocacy for his release to a reputable humane sanctuary. Please see: “How Long Should You Try? Until.” for important ways we can continue to support Tony. Updates will be posted when they become available.
Sincerest Thanks to ALL of Tony’s friends. Your tremendous support and dedication to him positively impacts his release to a proper home. As we voice our concerns for Tony, hopefully we also raise awareness to the problem of privately owned tigers in the United States. What more poignant representative for these tigers could there be than Tony, who has spent his life as a roadside attraction at a truck stop.
On Saturday Tony’s Care2 petition reached 45,000 signatures! The petition is still open and it’s a good medium to keep Tony’s story networked and people involved. A look at the signatures confirms that Tony has touched the hearts and minds of people worldwide who support his relocation to a proper sanctuary.
Advocating for Tony has opened up a global network of friends with important animal welfare issues – and supporting each other is vital as we advocate for the welfare and rights of animals. Twitter has been a great vehicle for Tony. If you follow “Tony” @TonyTiger2000 on Twitter, you may know some of his “friends” who are also in dire situations and need our help: @LucyLiberte and @AbusedNYCHorse
Please take action on these issues if you agree that keeping a lone elephant in a zoo is cruel and the carriage-horse industry in New York City is inhumane.
Lucy spends a majority of her life indoors.
Lucy ( @LucyLiberte ) is a 36 year old elephant who lives alone at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Lucy was captured from the wild in Sri Lanka when she was a baby and sent to the zoo in 1977. Because of the cold Edmonton weather Lucy spends a majority of her time indoors in her barn. Lucy has a very dedicated group of friends and organizations like ZooCheck Canada and Friends of Lucy who are working towards her release to an elephant sanctuary: The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) orThe Elephant Sanctuary
You can read more about Lucy and how you can help her at these sites:
@AbusedNYCHorse tweets for an end to the carriage horse industry in NYC. There have been accidents involving carriage horses as well as horses collapsing; one recent tragic incident saw a horse named Charlie collapse and die on a NYC street. These beautiful animals are worked everyday in all weather conditions and must contend with dangerous traffic and unhealthy inhumane conditions.
Keep up to date with The Animal Legal Defense Fund and their tremendous work for the welfare and rights of all animals by visiting them at the following links:
Wildcat Haven Sanctuary Update: WCH Sanctuary exceeded their goal of 4,000 “LIKES” on their Facebook page by January 1, 2012! Each new “LIKE” equaled a $1.00 donation and 828 new friends generated $828.00 for the cats! WCH is a great friend and supporter of Tony and they provide exceptional homes for big cats. From the WCH website:“WildCat Haven is an American Sanctuary Association (ASA) accredited 501(c)3 non-profit, no-kill sanctuary located in Sherwood Oregon committed to providing permanent homes for captive born wildcats. As a true sanctuary we are not open to the public & do not buy, sell, breed or exhibit. ”
The recent articles about Tony and his possible move to an Oklahoma “exotic animal park” under investigation by the USDA for the deaths of 23 tiger cubs as well as the conditions and practices of this “park” which include money-making schemes such as exploiting tiger cubs in hands-on exhibits and photo ops are of great concern to all of us.
This “facility” is also asking for donations to build Tony a habitat which demonstrates they are not prepared and not equipped to provide the proper home and care that Tony needs and deserves.
There are accredited reputable humane big cat sanctuaries that stand ready to give Tony the home, care, life and respect he deserves.
A sanctuary as defined in the Captive Wildlife Safety Act:
• Must be a non-profit entity that is tax exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Cannot engage in commercial trade in big cat species, including their offspring, parts, and products made from them
• Cannot breed big cats
• Cannot allow direct contact between big cats and the public at their facilities
• Must keep records of transactions involving covered cats
• Must allow the Service to inspect their facilities, records, and animals at reasonable hours
Clearly this Oklahoma facility does not comply with these regulations. It is imperative we continue our advocacy on behalf of Tony for his release to a sanctuary that is humane, reputable and in compliance with the above stipulations.
ALDF is well-aware of the this “animal park.” Posted by Animal Legal Defense Fund on December 6th, 2011: “Our attorneys are researching various legal strategies for ensuring that Tony goes to a reputable sanctuary, not a roadside zoo.http://aldf.org/article.php?id=1891
How You Can Help Tony
Voice your concerns for Tony to The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for his release to a reputable, established, humane accredited big cat sanctuary that will meet all of his needs.
It’s very important that all correspondence for Tony be done in a respectable focused manner. While we are all very passionate and concerned about Tony, his health and welfare, please remember polite and focused letters have a better chance of being addressed and our concerns taken seriously. When you advocate for Tony, you are representing him – he deserves the utmost respect as do the individual(s) we are writing to.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Maria Davidson
Large Carnivore Program Manager
Louisiana Department Wildlife and Fisheries
5652 Highway 182
Opelousas LA 70570
Phone: (337) 948-0255
Fax: (337) 948-0213
Robert J. Barham, Secretary
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
P.O. Box 98000
Baton Rouge, LA 70898
Phone: (225) 765-2623
Fax: (225) 765-2607
Please sign if you haven’t and share. Petitions are a good way to keep people supportive, involved and show Tony is still at the truck stop, as well as demonstrate the interest and support Tony has worldwide.
Sincerest thanks to all of Tony’s friends for your concern, commitment and ongoing support of Tony. Together let’s continue to advocate for him and the home, life and care he deserves.
“Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
GROSS TETE, LA (NBC33) — An exotic animal park where Tony the Truck Stop tiger could end up is under investigation.
Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin has said that if the courts force him to relocate Tony from his roadside display in Gross Tete, he would send the big cat to GW Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
But the US Department of Agriculture began an investigation into that park last year after 23 tiger cubs died there.
They say they don’t know when the investigation will be completed.
Tony, the Siberian-Bengal tiger mix on display at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, reclines in a grassy area in his cage in this December 2010 photo. / Patrick Dennis
By Koran Addo
Westside bureau
December 20, 2011
GROSSE TETE — Tony, the 550-pound tiger on display at Tiger Truck Stop, could be bound for an exotic animal park in Oklahoma that federal officials say is under investigation after 23 tiger cubs died there.
Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin said he intends to send the 10-year-old Siberian-Bengal mix tiger to G.W. Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Okla., if forced by the courts to relocate the animal from its roadside display.
Animal-rights activists have been fighting to move the tiger from the truck stop.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture began an investigation of G.W. Exotic Animal Park on June 15, 2010, after learning of the tiger cub deaths, according to Dave Sacks, USDA spokesman
“We first conducted an inspection and subsequently opened an investigation into the matter,” Sacks said Friday. “That investigation continues.”
Sacks said he didn’t know when the investigation will be completed and declined further comment.
Sandlin said Monday he has toured several animal sanctuaries and is “100 percent comfortable” sending the tiger to the Oklahoma park run by Joe “Joe Exotica” Schreibvogel.
Schreibvogel did not return calls seeking comment Monday.
“The deaths are a concern to me,” Sandlin said. “But I understand there was a problem from the manufacturer with the powder that you mix with water to feed the cubs and some cubs died. I don’t blame Joe for that. It’s just a terrible thing.”
Sandlin said of the 13 tiger cubs born at Tiger Truck Stop in the past 25 years, one was stillborn; another one died for undetermined reasons; and a third, fully grown white tiger, died of pancreatic cancer.
“I have a pretty good record, but you’re going to have problems,” Sandlin said. “I know Joe will love and take care of Tony.”
Sandlin said he chose G.W. Exotic Animal Park because Schreibvogel promised to build an enclosure roughly the same size as Tony’s 3,200-square-foot home at the truck stop.
Schreibvogel previously said he had a 5,000-square-foot cage ready for Tony and is trying to raise $120,000 to build him a 10,000-square-foot habitiat with a swimming pool, waterfall and shade trees.
Last week, Schreibvogel said his business has raised only $100 toward the cause.
Schreibvogel’s promise to keep Tony out of public view was one of the determining factors in choosing the animal park as a final home for the tiger, Sandlin said.
He said he wants Tony to have a quiet retirement.
“It’s not that I want him totally isolated, because he’s used to being around people. There are truck drivers that he recognizes, he’s used to being petted and he’s grown up accustomed to kids stopping by to look at him,” Sandlin said.
He said park staff would be around to care for Tony, so he won’t be isolated.
“It would be cruel to isolate him, “ Sandlin said. “He could grieve himself to death.”
Sandlin also said the park is close enough to his family’s home in Stillwater, Okla., where Sandlin could visit him periodically.
Tony’s future ultimately is up to the courts in Louisiana.
In May, state District Judge Mike Caldwell ruled the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries could not issue any new permits allowing Tiger Truck Stop to keep the tiger on display.
The judge’s ruling came after the Animal Legal Defense Fund sued Wildlife and Fisheries, arguing a permit can only be issued to an individual, not a corporation, and the individual must live on the premises.
Tiger Truck Stop is the permit holder, not Sandlin.
“Mr. Sandlin and Tiger Truck Stop should be required to abide by the rules,’’ the judge said at the time.
A three-judge panel of the state’s 1st Circuit Court of Appeal threw out that ruling in August after deciding Sandlin and Tiger Truck Stop Inc. deserved to be heard as a party in the dispute
Caldwell took up the matter again last month and ruled for a second time the truck stop could not get another permit under Louisiana law.
The truck stop’s permit will expire at the end of the month.
Sandlin’s attorney, Steve LeBlanc, said Monday he asked Caldwell to suspend the ruling barring the state from issuing another permit until the judge can consider Sandlin’s request for a new trial.
If the judge doesn’t grant a new trial, LeBlanc said he will file another appeal with the 1st Circuit. Caldwell’s judgment isn’t final until the appeal process runs its course, according to Bo Boehringer, a spokesman for the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
If Sandlin’s appeal is denied, Boehringer said, his agency would give Sandlin 30 days to move Tony to a sanctuary of Sandlin’s choosing.
Series of videos taken of Tony December 17th 2011 courtesy of “Cloversweed.” Sincerest thanks to Cloversweed for sharing her videos of Tony with us. Visit her Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/cloversweed
BY KIMBERLY VETTER
Advocate Staff Writer
December 12, 2011
The latest effort to keep Tony, a 550-pound siberian-bengal tiger, at a Grosse Tete truck stop has failed.
State District Judge Mike Caldwell denied Tuesday a motion for a new trial filed on behalf of Michael Sandlin, owner of Tiger Truck Stop Inc. near Interstate 10 in Iberville Parish.
The motion was filed Nov. 20 after Caldwell ruled the tiger would not be permitted to remain at Sandlin’s truck stop.
Sandlin’s attorney, Steve LeBlanc, said Friday he would file a motion with the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals to put the judge’s orders on hold and to permit a suspensive appeal, which would allow Sandlin to keep Tony at the truck stop until after an appellate decision has been rendered.
Bo Boehringer, a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman, said Caldwell’s judgment isn’t final until the appeal process runs its course. If Sandlin’s appeal is denied, Boehringer said his agency would give Sandlin 30 days to move Tony to a sanctuary of Sandlin’s choosing.
Sandlin, who was not available Friday for comment, has said he would send Tony to GW Exotic Animal Memorial Park in Wynnewood, Okla., if he loses his appeals.
The owner of the park, Joe Schreibvogel, said he currently has a 5,000-square-foot cage ready for Tony and is trying to raise money to build him a 10,000-square-foot habitat with a swimming pool, waterfall and shade trees.
The habitat would cost at least $120,000, Schreibvogel said, adding his business has only raised $100 toward the cause.
A letter Schreibvogel sent earlier this month to park supporters said money donated to Big Cat Rescue, the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Care2 on behalf of “their Free Tony the Tiger campaigns” should “pay for the construction of a new habitat for Tony the Tiger.”
“It’s time the tiger gets what he deserves,” Schreibvogel said.
Carole Baskin, chief executive officer of Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Fla., said her organization raised a small amount of money in 2009 to pay for legal fees regarding its fight to move Tony from his current home.
Baskin said she is willing to house the tiger and doesn’t need any money to do so.
“We’ve had an enclosure waiting for him since 2009,” she said.
Lisa Franzetta, communications director for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, said her organization has contacted accredited sanctuaries that are willing and able to take Tony at no cost to Sandlin or to the state of Louisiana.
“The fact that GW Exotics is asking for public money just proves how unprepared and ill-equipped they are to care for Tony,” she said.
Representatives for Care2 were not available for comment.
